Public hearing #2

Monday, November 11, 2002, 7pm

Re: Potential of Trout Lake future contamination

Held at Trout Lake Clubhouse

Called by EPA

68 attendees

I.                    Introduction and Explanation by Elaine Green, Community Involvement Coordinator, EPA

a.      Welcomes residents

b.      Explains her understanding of Trout Lake issues

                                                               i.      Mine tailing landslide from Silver Cliff down into Slippery Creek

                                                             ii.      Sediments flowed into Trout Lake, where they remain virtually stationary

                                                            iii.      If broken up, sediments will contaminate lake with mostly lead, also cyanide

                                                           iv.      Currently lake water meets standards (a.k.a. not contaminated)

c.      Describes Superfund program

                                                               i.      Begun in 1980 by EPA to clean up worst US sites that pose health hazards

                                                             ii.      Funded by organization that was source of contamination

                                                            iii.      Will begin assessing the property next week to determine how hazardous the situation is; if very risky, then Superfund will be designated

d.      Process of clean-up

                                                               i.      Dredge lake for sediment removal

                                                             ii.      Timeline: 3-8 months

                                                            iii.      Ecological restoration period (riverbank stabilization, wetland restoration, waterfowl protection, and improvement of fisheries & fish habitat)

II.                 Mark D’Zine of Silver County Planning Dept.

a.      Supports idea of Superfund

b.      Will rid the area of a serious problem so they can focus on smaller issues to make Silver County an exceptional place to live

c.      Is not confident that any other body would be able to do such an extensive cleanup as the EPA

III.               Megan Lee Jones, President of STAC

a.      Explains that dredging can make it more difficult to remove sediments because it often breaks up sediment, allowing for an easier spread of contamination

b.      Asks Elaine Green how they are planning for that possibility

IV.              Elaine Green, EPA

a.      Says EPA’s employees understand that threat so they take precautions

b.      Explains that sediments may break up over time regardless of intervention, so it’s better to catch it now

V.                 Rachel LeBaron, president of Trout Lake Homeowners Association

a.      Asks if there’s a better or quicker way because EPA will be dredging during summertime when lake is in full demand

b.      Also asks about noise level for residents who live alongside lake

c.      Also asks about safety of aquatic life

VI.              Elaine Green, EPA

a.      Is no quicker or better way than dredging, but suggests that it’s more important that lake get cleaned than summer users getting contaminated

b.      Dredging won’t be too noisy

c.      Aquatic life

VII.            Ben Cartright, Silver County Chamber of Commerce

a.      Designation as Superfund will make area less desirable, lake is major draw to Silver County, county will lose money

b.      Agrees with Rachel LeBaron that dredging should be done in fall/winter

VIII.         Lucy Lucky, Silver County Historic Society and Tourism Board

a.      Agrees with Ben Cartright

b.      If no contamination now, then can’t it wait?

IX.              Mayor Jake Millhouse (a late arrival, attends because pressure from media to get involved in this issue)

a.      Thinks we should dredge so that problem is resolved

b.      Suggests that federal $ be used for cleanup

                                                               i.      MH Mining not to blame, especially after the good that it did for the county’s economy

                                                             ii.      MH Mining no longer exists, so how can they pay

c.      If dredging begins in fall, then it won’t disturb tourism

X.                 Jay Jacobs, Spokesperson for Pure Nature

a.      Do dredging as soon as possible

b.      Sediments can break open in large storm so something should be done now

c.      EPA’s involvement is crucial

XI.              Abigail Fisher of SANE

a.      Lives in Vermillion yet still sees the need to clean up Trout Lake

c.      Get EPA involved immediately

XII.            Elaine Green, EPA

a.      Will call another hearing after EPA assesses immediacy of issue

b.      Closes meeting